Government expects to introduce baseline test for reception age

This move is part of a number of changes in the way children are assessed. The baseline test will be used to track pupils’ progress throughout primary school. It is hoped to be piloted during 2019/2020 and rolled out in 2020. This test means reception-age children will be exposed to two tests as the early years foundation stage profile check will continue.

This is the second attempt by the government to introduce reception assessment in the last two years and there is still opposition from within the early years sector who are concerned about the reliability of the test and how it will accurately show progress throughout the children’s primary schooling.